Billiard-cue



Pa tented May 23, 1893.

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(No Model.)

W. H. SHUMAKER.

BILLIARD CUE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SI-IUMAKER, OF BAY HORSE, IDAHO.

BlLLIARD-CUE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,929, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed July 27, 1892. Serial No. 441,412- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SHUMAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay Horse, in the county of Custer and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Billiard-Oue, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in billiard cues and consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of this inventionis to providea billiard one having a springactuated extension rod adapted to be adjusted to different strengths of impellin g movement and released to have automatic operation, the parts thereof being simple and effective in their const-ruction and operation, and easily handled and readily understood.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved cue. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, showing the same set ready for play. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same.

Similar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a stock or handle, having an elongated slot in the upper side thereof in which is movably and adjustably fitted an elongated ratchet bar or strip 3,having teeth on the under side thereof, and 4: is the dog located adjacent to the rear end of said ratchet bar 3, and adapted to hold the samein adjusted position and be operated to release the said ratchet-bar. The stock or handle 1 is tubular, and at the reduced forward end thereof is attached a screw-threaded collar or ferrule 5, and at the rear end a screw-threaded cupferrule 6. The said ferrules are employed in order to bind the stock or handle at the front and rear. Within the said stock or handle is mounted an extension rod or one proper, as at 7, having a tip 8 on the front end thereof, and a head 9 located within the said stock or handle and bearing against the coiled spring 10, by which the same is impelled outwardly from the handle. The said head 9 is formed with a nose or tooth 11 which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-bar 3, and thereby hold the said extension rod 7 or one proper, in a suitable adjusted position within the said handle or stock against the normal tendency of the spring to force the same outward. An indicator or hand 12 projects laterally from the said head 9, through a slot 13, in the side of the stock or handle 1, and which is bent in such manner as to travel over a scale 14, adjacent to said slot 13, and representing pounds and fractions thereof, to indicate and assist in determining the pressure necessary on the end of the cue proper. It Will be seen that the extension rod 7 or one proper, may be set at any desirable pressure, as regards impelling force, which will be regulated by the distance a billiard or pool hall is to be driven and the manner of making the shot,

The device may be readily employed in playing any kind of billiards or pool, and when in use the hand is formed into a crotch or rest, as is ordinarily the case, and the dog or trigger 4, releases the ratchet-bar 3, in order to allow the extension rod or one proper to be impelled from the stock or handle against the ball.

The device is readily understood and operated and can be as readily manipulated as the ordinary form of one; and as the pressure exerted on the extension rod or one proper may be regulated through the medium of the ratchet-bar 3, it will be seen that a desirable and useful device of the character set forth is provided.

On the extension rod or one proper is mounted a gasket or cushion 15 of suitable material to cushion the head 9 when it moves forward against the front portion of the tubular portion of the handle. The ratchet-bar is socured at its front end in the elongated slot in upper side of the stock or handle and bears on a shoulder 15*, formed at the front end of the said elongated slot in the said stock or handle, thereby leaving the rear end of the said ratchet-bar free to move or be depressed inward owing to the resiliency of the samein order to make a firm engagement of the ratchet-teeth in the under side thereof With' the nose or tooth 11 on the head 9. The rear end of the ratchet-bar is slotted, as at 16, to receive the end 17 of the dog 4, that has an elongated slot 18 therein, through which is passed a pin 19, located in the said rear end of the ratchet-bar. By the latter means the ICO dog 4 is held up in loose connection with the rear end of the ratchet-bar 3, and by simply pressing forward on the rear portion of the said dog the said ratchet-bar is forced downward,owing to the position of the pin 19 resting against the rear portion or termination of the slot 18, that will hold the extension rod or one proper back in the said stock or handle, and when the pressure upon said dog is removed the ratchet-bar will automatically assume its normal position and the said extension rod or one proper will be impelled forward by the action of the spring engaging the rear of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a billiard cue, the combination of a tubular stock or handle with an elongated slot in the upper portion thereof and another slot in the side of the same, a coiled spring located in said stock or handle, a ratchet-bar mounted in said upper slot and having its outermost surface normally flush with the outer surface of the said stock or handle, and a series of teeth formed on the inner side thereof, said ratchet-bar having a slot extending into the rear end thereof, a dog pivotally mounted in said slot of the stock or handle adjacent to the rear end of said ratchet-bar and having its lower end formed with an elongated slot and engaging the rear slotted end of the said ratchet-bar, a pin extending transversely through the said slotted end of said ratchet bar and the said slot of the dog, and a spring-actuated extension rod or one proper having a head with a nose or tooth adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchetbar and in contact with the aforesaid coiled spring and provided with an indicator extending through the side slot of the stock or handle and adapted to move over a scale adjacent to said slot, substantially as described.

2. In a billiard cue, the combination of "a tubular stock or handle having a slot in the upper portion thereof, a ratchet-bar mounted in said slot of the stock or handle and having a series of teeth on the underside thereof, a dog pivotally connected to said stock or handle and having one end thereof movably attached to the rear portion of said ratchet-bar, and a spring actuated rod or one proper mounted in said stock or handle and provided with a head having a nose or tooth thereon adapted to be engaged by the teeth of said ratchet-bar, substantially as described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WlLLIAM I-I. SHUMAKER. Witnesses:

DANIEL MCDONALD. WILHELM IRMON. 

